12 THE ILLUSION CLASS BEMBRIDGE FLEET CONSTITUTION 1. TITLE The full title of the Association shall be the Illusion Class Association Bembridge Fleet. 2. OBJECTIVES 2.1 The Association is formed with the object of promoting and facilitating the sport of Illusion sailing and also to provide social and other facilities for members as may from time to time be determined. 2.2 This constitution is intended to cover all Illusion Fleets, but is written with particular reference to the Bembridge Fleet. 2.3 Illusion Fleets based elsewhere are invited to adopt the principals behind this Constitution and the Rules attached hereto as Appendix A so that all Illusions conform to the same set of designs and measurements with the aim that yachts from each fleets are as nearly alike as possible and may sail against each other on an equal and fair basis. 2.4 If other Illusion Fleets adopt this Constitution and its Rules then the setting up of a National Association will be considered. 3. MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING RIGHTS 3.1 There shall be three categories of membership of the Association: Full Members Associate Members and Guests. 3.2 Full Membership shall, upon payment of the prescribed annual subscription, be open to any owner or part owner of an Illusion Yacht. 3.3 Associate Membership shall, upon payment of the prescribed annual subscription, be open to other interested persons such as those who may wish to sail Illusions from time to time by borrowing a yacht. 3.4 Guests may be invited by a Full Member from time to time and permitted to race under these Rules. 3.5 Members shall be bound by this Constitution and the Rules attached hereto as Appendix A. 3.6 Each Full Member of the Association shall be entitled to one vote at a General Meeting of the Association. Associate Members shall be entitled to attend and speak at any General Meeting, but not to vote. There shall be no proxies permitted. 4. MANAGEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION 4.1 The affairs of the Association shall be managed by the Committee consisting of the Officers of the Association, the Bembridge Sailing Club Illusion Class Captain, and two or more other Full Members so that the Committee consists of a minimum of five and a maximum of nine members. 4.2 The Officers of the Association shall be Full Members and shall consist of: the Commodore, the Class Captain, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Technical Officers (who may include the Measurer). Page 1
4.3 The Committee shall, within these Regulations, have entire control of the Association and their decision on all matters shall be subject to ratification at the next Annual General Meeting ( AGM ). 5. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION 5.1 The AGM of the Association shall be held each season. 5.2 The season for the Association and for such purposes as subscriptions shall run from 1st October of a year until 30th September of the following year. 5.3 A Member of the Committee shall circulate to Members notice of any General Meeting or AGM with an Agenda at least four weeks before the date of such meeting. 5.4 At any General Meeting or Committee Meeting decisions shall be limited to matters on the Agenda and shall be carried by a majority vote. Voting shall be by a show of hands, unless a poll is demanded by not fewer than three of the Full Members present. At any meeting the Commodore shall have a casting vote. 5.5 The presence of ten Full Members at an AGM shall form a quorum. Only Full Members shall be able to vote at a General Meeting. 6. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND THE COMMITTEE 6.1 The Officers and other Committee members shall be elected at the AGM and shall hold office for one year, retiring at the next AGM. All Officers and Committee members shall be eligible for re-election over five consecutive years, after which they must stand down for at least one year before being eligible for re-election. 6.2 A Committee meeting shall comprise four or more Committee members. 6.3 Any Full Member may propose themselves as an Officer or Member of the Committee for election at an AGM in writing to the Committee five weeks prior to the AGM. 6.4 The Committee shall use its best endeavours to circulate an Agenda four weeks prior to the AGM. 7. SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions for each category of membership shall be proposed by the Committee to Members at the AGM in each year for approval. 8. ACCOUNTS 8.1 The Committee shall cause true accounts to be kept giving particulars of all monies, assets and liabilities of the Association, all monies received and expended by the Association and the reasons for such receipts and expenditure. 8.2 The Committee shall cause an annual financial statement to be prepared and presented at every AGM of the Association. 9. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES AND BUOYANCY AND INSURANCE 9.1 It is the responsibility of all Members to ensure that when racing their Yachts at all times comply fully with the current Rules of the Association. 9.2 Members must also ensure that their Yachts carry comprehensive third party cover as is recommended by their insurance broker. 9.3 It is recommended that when racing Members wear a personal flotation device. Page 2
12 APPENDIX A - RULES OF THE ILLUSION CLASS Bembridge Fleet 1. GENERAL The Objects of these rules, specifications and exhibits (including official plans) is to ensure that Illusion One Design Yachts are as nearly alike as possible as regards: a. hull and deck shape and weight b. shape of rudder c. shape and area of sail plan d. size and weight of spars and rigging e. weight distribution, and f. any other matter which may influence the speed, performance or seaworthiness of the yacht Racing shall be conducted under the Equipment Rules of Sailing (ERS) and the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) except as altered by these Rules, the Notice of Race or the Sailing Instructions. 2. ADMINISTRATION The administration of these Rules shall be the responsibility of the Committee of the Illusion Class Bembridge Fleet (the Association ) or such person who the Committee shall appoint. The Association is formed with the object of promoting and facilitating the sport of Illusion sailing and also to provide social and other facilities for members as may from time to time be determined. 3. BUILDERS Illusion Yachts shall be built only by builders licensed to do so under copyright of Jo Richards, Cowes, Isle of Wight, and shall comply with the Building Specification detailed by the copyright holder and attached to these Rules as Exhibit A. A building fee of 50 shall be payable to Jo Richards when the moulding of the hull commences. 4. REGISTRATION AND MEASUREMENT CERTIFICATES 4.1 No yacht shall be deemed to be an Illusion until it has been completed with a Building Number assigned by the Association. 4.2 The sail number shall be assigned by the Association. Each Illusion shall have consecutive sail numbers starting from 1 and preceded by national letters. 4.3 No yacht shall race unless a current valid Measurement Certificate has been issued by the Association, or Self Measurement Certificate completed by the owner as set out in Exhibit C. 4.4 Change of ownership shall invalidate the Measurement Certificate unless such change is registered by the Association. 4.5 Any alteration, replacement or major repair to an item of equipment may require measurement in accordance with the rules. 4.6 It is the responsibility of an owner to ensure that the yacht complies at all times with the Class Rules in force at the time of certification. Page 3
4.7 No yacht shall race unless the owner(s) is a Full Member or a guest of the Association. 4.8 Alterations and modifications to these Rules shal only be permitted by such alterations or modifications being presented to an AGM by the Committee and approved by such meeting. 5. MEASUREMENT 5.1 Yachts may only be measured by a measurer appointed by the Committee. 5.2 The measurer shall not measure a yacht, spars, sails or equipment owned or built by himself, or in which he is an interested party, or has a financial involvement. 5.3 The measurer shall report on the Measurement Form attached as Exhibit B anything which is considered to be a departure from the intended nature and design of the yacht, or to be against the general interest of the Class. A certificate may be refused even if the specific requirement of these Rules is satisfied. 5.4 The method of measurement, unless otherwise stated, shall be in accordance with the ERS. 6. CONSTRUCTION AND MEASUREMENTS 6.1 GENERAL The hull, deck, interior layout, ballast, rudder, sail plan and deck layout shall conform to the building specifications, class rules and official diagrams. 6.2 HULL a. The hull and deck flange shall be moulded by a licensed builder, in glass reinforced plastics to the building specifications of lamination. b. The cockpit, deck, interior bulkheads and buoyancy tanks shall conform to the details of the official Diagram A attached. c. The deck and bulkheads shall be constructed from Glass Reinforced Plastics, G.R.P. Decks and bulkheads shall be constructed on an approved mould to the building specifications of laminations. d. The deck shall be flat in section with no camber either positive or negative, with a tolerance of minus 5mm to plus 20mm. e. The cockpit coaming shall be as detailed in official Diagram A, and shall not exceed a height of 30mm from deck level, the fitting of skirts or cockpit cover during racing not allowed. f. A watertight deck recess shall be fitted in the forward section of the deck (as shown in Diagram A ) with a minimum depth of 35mm. g. Chainplates shall be fixed in line with the mast step and there shall be a minimum shroud base of 580mm and a maximum shroud base of 630mm. h. The following are not permitted: coring, drilling out, rebuilding, replacement of materials, or grinding in any way to reduce weight, and reshaping of the hull (including keel) profiles or contours. i. The maximum beam, at any point on the sheerline, shall not be more than 830mm. Page 4
6.3 BALLAST a. The all up weight in full racing rig, including crew corrector weights and ballast shall not be less than 330 Kg nor more than 340 Kg. b. Ballast shall be made up of solid lead ingots, and/or bags of lead shot. No individual ingot or bag shall weigh more than 15kgms. The ballast shall not weigh less than 160kgs save where rule 6.3(c 2) applies. c. Crew weight is deemed to be 100 Kg and shall corrected by the following means: d. Crew weighing less than 100 Kg shall carry corrector weights in lead shot bags of no more than 15 Kg each. e. Crew weighing more than 100 Kg shall remove ballast. f. Trimming ballast may be placed in the forward buoyancy compartment to allow correct sailing trim. g. No ballast with a greater specific density than lead shall be used. 6.4 BILGE PUMP a. An adequate manual bilge pump shall be fitted. b. The manual bilge pump shall drain from the lowest point in the keel and shall exit through the deck at a point between the forward edge of the coaming and the aft edge of the mast. c. In addition to the bilge pump fitted under (a), an electric bilge pump may be fitted. d. The electric bilge pump shall exit above the hull aft of the forward buoyancy tank and forward of the aft buoyancy tank. e. The maximum electric bilge pump capacity is 1100 gallons an hour. 6.5 RUDDER AND STEERING SYSTEM a. The external dimensions and configuration of the rudder shall comply with the official rudder drawing and table of offsets contained on official Diagram D. b. The rudder shall be constructed of either solid timber or glass reinforced plastic or a combination of both. c. The rudder stock shall be constructed of aluminium or stainless steel tube, with a minimum outside diameter of 25mm, fitted parallel to the skeg and at right angle to the deck sheerline. d. The rudder bearings shall consist of simple plastic or nylon rings. e. The steering system must be controlled by means of a foot-bar as indicated but additional control lines to facilitate hand steering by rope and pulley are permitted. f. Steering control lines shall be of synthetic rope not less than 2mm in diameter. g. Solid linkages in the steering system are not permitted. 6.6 SPARS 6.6.1 Mast a. The mast shall be of aluminium extrusion. The sections supplied by Hawk Marine Products or Needlespar, conforming to diagram E shall be standard. No alteration or modifications (except for repairs) to the mast extrusions are permitted except to facilitate the attachment of rigging and fittings as specified in these Rules. b. Permanently bent masts and rotating masts are not permitted. Page 5
c. The distance from the forward surface of the mast at deck measured horizontally to the stem at sheerline shall not be more than 1,550mm nor less than 1,530mm. d. The mast shall be deck stepped. e. Bands of minimum width 10mm shall be put on the mast in contrasting colour to the mast as follows: No 1 whose upper edge shall be minimum 350 above deck level; No 2 whose lower edge is maximum 3840mm above the upper edge of No 1. f. Not more than two spinnaker boom attachment fittings shall be fixed to the forward surface of the mast. The maximum height shall not be more than 280mm above deck level. The fitting shall project not more than 35mm horizontally from forward surface of the mast. 6.6.2 Standing Rigging a. The mast standing rigging shall only consist of one backstay, two upper shrouds, two intermediate shrouds and two lower shrouds. b. The standing rigging shall be 2mm in diameter 1x19 grade stainless rigging wire. c. The shrouds shall be attached at their lower ends and shall not be adjusted while racing. d. The backstay shall be fixed to the masthead crane which has a max length of 100mm from the aft face of the mast. e. The intersection between the sheerline and the extension of the genoa luff shall be such that the genoa furler fits within the deck recess (6.2 f). 6.6.3 Running Rigging a. One spinnaker halyard of synthetic rope which shall not bear more than 5mm forward of the mast or more than 2710mm above the upper surface of the lower black band. b. One mainsail halyard of synthetic rope. c. One genoa halyard which shall not bear more than 2550mm above the upper surface of the lower black band. The genoa halyard may be adjustable in length. d. One kicking strap. e. One spinnaker boom downhaul. f. One mainsail outhaul. g. One Cunningham control of synthetic rope. h. One backstay adjuster tackle of synthetic rope. i. One mainsheet of synthetic rope. j. Spinnaker and headsail sheets of synthetic rope. k. One spinnaker boom uphaul of synthetic rope. 6.6.4 Main Boom a. The boom shall not be tapered or permanently bent. b. The boom shall be of aluminium extrusion round section of not more than 50mm diameter. c. A contrasting coloured band of minimum width 10mm shall encircle the boom. The forward edge of the band shall be not more than 1350mm from the aft surface of the mast, when the boom is held at right angles to the mast. 6.6.5 Spinnaker Boom The overall length of the spinnaker boom, including fittings, shall not be more than 1260mm. Page 6
7. SAILS 7.1. GENERAL 7.1.1 MANDATORY: (a) Mainsail (b) Headsail OPTIONAL: (c) Spinnaker 7.1.2 SAILMAKER: No licence is required. The choice of sailmaker is optional. 7.1.3 SPECIAL PROVISIONS Notwithstanding provisions within Rule 7.2.2 (a) and 7.3.1 (a) concerning sail materials, sailors may use sails incorporating clear monofilm material in the body of the sail. 7.2. MAINSAIL 7.2.1 IDENTIFICATION Letters and distinguishing numbers shall be placed on the mainsail. The class emblem on the mainsail shall be as in Diagram B in Exhibit C, and contained within two 140 x 130mm rectangles located starboard on top of port but separated by a 30mm space. The rectangles shall be located immediately below the midpoint of the top batten. The national letters and distinguishing numbers shall be of equivalent height and size to the class emblem, and shall be located immediately below the midpoint of the second batten. 7.2.2 MATERIALS (a) The sail shall be a soft sail manufactured from a single woven ply except for permitted reinforcements, constructional seams, tabling, camber lines and genuine repairs to damage, and shall be of woven material. The ply fibres shall consist of polyester. (b) Stiffening shall consist of: (1) Headboard of plastic (2) Battens fibreglass (d) Sail reinforcement shall consist of the same materials permitted in the body of the sail 7.2.3 CONSTRUCTION (a) The body of the sail shall be made from flat panels made from the same ply except for the panel adjacent to the foot, which may be of a different woven ply. (b) The sail shall have 4 battens and batten pockets in the leech. They shall be spaced equally +/- 30mm along the cord of the leech, from the Aft Head Point to the Clew Point, measured to the centreline of the batten pocket. Battens may be permanently fixed or removable. (c) The following are permitted: Stitching, glues, tapes, bolt ropes, corner eyes, headboard with fixings, Cunningham eye/pulley, batten pocket patches, batten pocket elastic, tell tales, sail shape indicator stripes and clew slide. (d) The leech shall not extend aft of straight lines between: (a.i.1) the aft head point and the intersection of the leech and the upper edge of the nearest batten pocket, (a.i.2) the intersection of the leech and the lower edge of a batten pocket and the intersection of the leech and the upper edge of an adjacent batten pocket below, (a.i.3) the clew point and the intersection of the leech and the lower edge of the nearest batten pocket. (e) Sails with a loose foot are not permitted Page 7
7.2.4 MAINSAIL DIMENSIONS (Measurements in mm) Minimum Maximum Leech length 4050 Half width 900 Three-quarter width 530 Top width and any extension of from head point 90 Primary reinforcement 250 Secondary reinforcement: from sail corner measurement points 500 flutter patches 100 Chafing patches 100 Batten pocket patches 100 Tabling width (leech & luff) 10 35 Seem width 9 20 Batten pocket length: Uppermost pocket: inside +/-5mm 230 Intermediate and lowermost pockets: inside +/-5mm 310 Batten pocket outside width +/-5mm 30 50 Class insignia Height 110 140 Width 100 130 National Letters and Sail Numbers (individual) Height 95 110 Thickness 15 20 Sail numbers and letters shall be of a contrasting colour to the mainsail 7.3 HEADSAIL 7.3.1 MATERIALS (a) The sail shall be a soft sail manufactured from a single woven ply except for permitted reinforcements, constructional seams, tabling, camber lines and genuine repairs to damage, and shall be of woven material. The ply fibres shall consist of polyester (b) Sail reinforcement shall consist of the same materials permitted in the body of the sail (c) Windows shall consist of a single ply of transparent material 7.3.2 CONSTRUCTION (a) The body of the sail shall be made from flat panels made from the same woven ply throughout. (b) The leech shall not extend beyond a straight line from the aft head point to the clew point. (c) The following are permitted: Stitching, glues, tapes, corner eyes, windows, tell tales, sail shape indicator stripes, flutter patches, luff wire. Page 8
7.3.3 HEADSAIL DIMENSIONS (Measurements in mm) Minimum Maximum Luff length 2860 2890 Luff perpendicular 1660 1700 Top width - 32 Primary reinforcement 100 250 Secondary reinforcement from sail corner measurement points - 500 for flutter patches - 100 for chafing patches - 250 Tabling width (leech & foot) 0 35 Seam width 9 20 Window: number of windows unlimited Total window area - 0.2m 2 7.4 SPINNAKER 7.4.1 MATERIALS (a) The ply fibres shall consist of Nylon (b) The body of the sail shall consist of the same woven ply throughout; (c) Sail reinforcement may be of a Polyester material. 7.4.2 CONSTRUCTION (a) The construction shall be: soft sail, single woven ply sail. (b) The body of the sail shall consist of the same woven ply throughout. (c) The following are permitted: Stitching, glues, tapes, corner eyes. 7.4.3 DIMENSIONS (Measurements in mm) Minimum Maximum Leach length 3250 3330 Difference between leech lengths - 25 Foot length 1940 2000 Half width 1880 2000 Primary reinforcement 250 Secondary reinforcement measurement from sail corner measurement points - 310 Tabling width 9 20 Seam width 9 20 Page 9
8. CREW There shall be a standard deemed weight for crew of 100 Kg which each helmsman shall weigh in at with the aid of corrector weights or removal of ballast. 9. BUOYANCY 9.1 There shall be four separate buoyancy compartments as detailed in Diagram A in Exhibit C. 9.2 All buoyancy compartments shall be capable of being drained through watertight hatches or with bungs. 9.3 No part of a side buoyancy compartment shall be more than 500mm below the level of the sheerline when measured on a perpendicular plane. 9.4 Yachts, having been fully flooded, must float for at least 30 minutes without sinking & demonstrate the manual pump is working. A flotation test to be undertaken annually within three racing weekends of that season and witnessed by a member of the General Committee, a sticker will be issued to evidence the boat passing the test. 10. FIXED FITTINGS & EQUIPMENT TO BE CARRIED WHEN RACING Two headsail sheet tracks, each not more than 235 mm in length, located in the positions as indicated on Diagram A. 11. GENERAL PROHIBITIONS The following are not permitted: 11.1 Hydraulics; 11.2 Running backstays or devices to simulate such; 11.3 Spinnaker chutes through the deck; 11.4 Bushed or unbushed holes or slots to feed halyards or control lines through the hull, transom or buoyancy compartments. 11.5 Levers or other equipment that may increase the power ratio of the running rigging; 11.6 Hiking at no time while racing shall the majority of the crew s torso be above deck level; 11.7 Trimming of genoa sheets by means other than by a sheet from the clew directly to the block fastened to the headsail track. Direct trimming by hand is only allowed when the wind is aft of abeam; 11.8 The use of barber haulers and similar devices is prohibited; 11.9 Angling of headsail tracks, or athwartships movement is prohibited. The tracks are to be approximately parallel as shown in Diagram A; 11.10 Reef points fitted to either the mainsail or genoa are prohibited; and 11.11 Electronic compasses or similar electronic navigational equipment. Page 10
12. APPENDICES Measurement shall be carried out in accordance with the ERS except where varied in this Part. Building 1. Specification Diagram A 2. Class Emblem Diagram B 3. Measurement Certificate Exhibit B 4. Self- Measurement Certificate Exhibit C 5. Illusion Mast Page 11
13. DIAGRAM A MEASUREMENTS Page 12
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14. DIAGRAM B IDENTIFICATION National letters and distinguishing numbers shall be placed on the mainsail. The class emblem on the mainsails shall be as in Diagram B and contained within two 140 x 130mm rectangles located starboard on top of port but separately by a 30mm space. The rectangles shall be located immediately below the midpoint of the top batten. The national letters and distinguishing numbers shall be of equivalent height and size to the class emblem, and shall be located immediately below the midpoint of the second batten. Page 15
EXHIBIT B MEASUREMENT CERTIFICATE No:.. Name: Owner:.. ITEM No. Rule No. Item Measurement (mm) HULL Length Overall 3648 +/-5 Overall to transom 3275 +/-10 To aft side of track well 2400 max To bulkhead af side 1200 +/-10 Cockpit width at 2270 530 +/-10 Cockpit width at 2730 470 +/-10 Overall to cockpit aft side 2885 +/-10 Overall to cockpit fore side 2050 +/-10 Overall to front side of mast 1540 +/-10 Intersection jib attachment within jib well overall to aft edge of jib well 410 +/-? Overall to fore edge of jib well 130 +/-12 Length of genoa track well 235 +/-5 Length of genoa tracks 230 +/-5 Athwartship genoa track to track centreline aft end Athwartship genoa track to track centreline fore end 725 max 735 max Maximum beam at front of genoa track well 825 +/-5 Maximum beam anywhere 825 +/-5 Beam at front of mast 720 +/-10 Beam at transom 625 +/-10 Distance between skeg and transom 720 +/-10 Distance from keel to skeg 410 +/-10 Depth of skeg to bottom of keel 350 +/-10 Maximum depth deck to keel 940 +/-5 Distance between shrouds at deck level in line centre mast step min 580 max 620 Deck camber -5 to +20 Cockpit coaming above deck Depth jib well recess forward Side buoyancy tanks below shear to floor Four separate buoyancy compartments Build No. on Hull engraved plate Depth of aft edge of rudder Rudder width at top Rudder width 200mm from bottom 30 max 35 min 500 max YES / NO YES / NO 400 max 155 max 255 max Page 16
ITEM No. Rule No. Item Measurement (mm) Rudder width 100mm from bottom Rudder thickness Rudder stock diameter Rudder stock to be parallel to skeg and at right angle to deck sheerline 230 max 50 max 25 min RUDDER Vertical gap skeg to rudder 10 +/-5 Skeg thickness at 140mm from bottom 60 +/-3 Skeg thickness at bottom 50 +/-3 WEIGHTS Ballast Crew + correctors All up racing weight 160 kg min Min 100 kg 330-340 kg MAST Needlespar or Hawk Marine Construction Diagram E Upper edge of lower black band Lower edge of upper black band to upper edge of lower black band Height of spinnaker boom attachment from deck Projection of spinnaker boom attachment Spinnaker halyard above top of lower black band Projection of spinnaker halyard heave Genoa halyard above top of lower black band Diameter mast and boom section 350 max 3800 max 280 max 35 max 2710 max 5 max 2550 max 50 max BOOM Distance from aft side of mast to front edge of black band Overall length of optional spinnaker boom including fittings 1350 max 1360 max SAIL MEASUREMENT See Separate Form BUOYANCY Annual Buoyancy Test Page 17
Exhibit C Form to be used where original builder s certificate or class measurement is unavailable 12 THE ILLUSION CLASS BEMBRIDGE FLEET Certification of Weight & Sail Measurement Boat Name. Build/Sail Number. In accordance with the Rules of Appendix A. I... (Owner Please Print) confirm to the best of my knowledge the following :- a) Boat, Sail Number., conforms to the class measurement requirements. b) Overall weight of Boat plus racing rig including lead ballast kgs. Crew weight..kgs. Corrector weight kgs. [Crew plus corrector weight to be a minimum of 100 kilograms] c) My boat complies to the buoyancy test requirement required by The Illusion Class Bembridge Fleet d) The sails have been made in accordance with and meet class measurement rules. e) In the spirit of the class, I accept that at any time Committee Members of the class may spot check my boat to confirm buoyancy and measurements are correct. Signed.. Date. Page 18